Showing solidarity and prioritising humanity both now and in any difficult period

When the coronavirus pandemic started in March, the Muslim community in Oldham, alongside many other faith and non-faith communities, responded in a number of ways to support residents from all communities and backgrounds. Thousands of people have been provided with food packages, bereavement support, and ongoing support on their doorsteps.

In May 2020, LGBT Foundation published findings from the largest and most substantive research into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on LGBT communities in the United Kingdom to date. This research has uncovered some of the wide-ranging and profound effects the pandemic has had on the lives of LGBT people in areas such as mental health; isolation; substance misuse; eating disorders; living in unsafe environments; financial impact; homelessness; access to healthcare; and access to support.

5 free places available on each session thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis and are restricted to organisations based in the following areas:

Greater Manchester

Lancashire

Attendees must be directors of or employees/volunteers of ‘ grassroots’ social enterprises/not-for profits and would not normally be able to pay for marketing training. Only one place per organisation.

Changing the conversation around mental wellbeing and helping to remove the stigma can often be challenging work. Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind want to create a ripple of change locally and regionally with the roll out of their new Connect 5 – Live Online mental wellbeing training, working with the four other Mind branches across Greater Manchester (Mind in Greater Manchester Partnership), as well as providing a range of ongoing innovative help and support for all who sign up.

This is Volunteers' Week! We are meeting some of our emergency volunteers each day this week to find out what they’re doing, and why they do it.

Anita Cowing is volunteering in Tameside.

Why have you chosen to volunteer?

I found that I had some spare time and I wanted to do something useful, to help the people in need in my community. I work part time and this volunteer role allows to me to donate my time flexibly around that.

This is Volunteers' Week! We are meeting some of our emergency volunteers each day this week to find out what they’re doing, and why they do it.

Peter Lockwood is a Tameside Neighbourhood Volunteer and Miles of Smiles Driver

Peter Lockwood has been volunteering with Action Together as a Miles of Smiles driver for over 3 years. Due to the pandemic Peter found that he was unable to continue volunteering as a Miles of Smiles Driver. Despite this, he wanted to continue supporting his community, more so during this difficult time.